Reply To: Storing Lithium Ion Batteries

[Murray]

Hi PT. I think you raised an important issue for safety. I’m not sure these thoughts help but they might. I have multiple charging stations throughout my house for charging camera batteries, dive torches, portable vacuum cleaners, etc. I went to Woolworths and purchased a 3-pack of the king-sized flexible aluminium baking trays (they are disposable, though I intend to use mine for many, many years because I know how much energy is required to manufacture aluminium). All of the batteries and battery chargers sit inside the aluminium baking trays. I am hoping that if any of the batteries leak acid or ignite the aluminium trays will help prevent fire spreading to the rest of the house. When I fly on aeroplanes with photography gear I cover and wrap every battery terminal with electrical insulation sticky tape. I also use the same tape to lock down any switches that might accidently shift to the ON position, for example, my dive torch which as an integrated heavy duty battery. I do this even if I re-insert batteries back into the cameras or strobes. My reasoning is that a fire is far less likely to occur if no electrical current can flow and no device can power up. I pack a small pair of scissors and the small roll of electrical tape inside my check-in luggage so that I can lock down all terminals again for the return flights. Hopefully none of us will ever have a nasty accident

• This reply was modified 11 months, 1 week ago by  Murray Parkinson.